May

This cutie had another band performance, but this time it was drummers only from all the middle schools and the high school they will feed into. It was called “A Night of Drumming” and it was so fun to watch!

His buddy Hunter is in percussion too, so the Stolarski’s were there as well!

6th grade percussionist from two different middle schools!

Brooks was smiling the whole time and did so good!

The high schoolers were so talented!

All the percussionist from the high school and middle schools!

Grand finale song of the night!

Brooks’ cheering squad…

I brought Ellis lunch to school one last time and these geese were so cute walking their babies on the sidewalk!

Going to miss lunch dates with my girl.

These studs had tournaments at the same ballpark and that NEVER happens!!

Adam did it again! He qualified for his Summit Club spring work trip, and this year we got to go to Saint Thomas in the US Virgin Islands!

First day we got their in the late afternoon and went straight to dinner…

You could see the downtown lights from our resort.

A zoomed in gorgeous view from our balcony!

We slept in ridiculously late and then headed downstairs for lunch!

After lunch we headed to the beach where we spent the whole rest of the day relaxing…

The walk down is just breathtaking!

That evening his company had a welcome dinner on a beautiful beach near the resort!

The second full day we had an early morning excursion that started out with some kayaking…

We kayaked to a beach that has an infestation of hermit crabs! All the sudden he ground started moving, it was crazy!

Next up we hiked to a blowhole…

In the background to the left of us in “Epstein Island”…

After our excursion we parked it on the beach for the afternoon!

Then we went off site for dinner and had the best scallops we’ve ever had in our lives!

Our 3rd and final day we slept in ridiculously late once again, and then spent the whole day relaxing on the beach and pool!

I finished 3 whole books this trip between the flights and relaxing on the beach!

Loves him and how well he provides for and takes care of his family!

Last morning sleeping in!

One last lunch with a beach view!

One last photo session in paradise!

Who knew we’d be spending 8 hours in a teeny tiny airport with delay after delay, unable to leave because we already went through customs.

Finally getting on the plane at almost midnight!

Heading to Charlotte, where we had to spend the night and catch another flight home in the morning….

I made a high light reel of our first ever trip to Saint Thomas! I wish we had more time to explore more of the islands and the British Virgin Islands as well, but sleeping in and relaxing was exactly what both of us needed!

The fifth graders organized an arcade for the last week of school using only crafts and their imaginations! The parents were invited to come and play all of the games at the arcade. It was so much fun and so cool to see how creative all the kids were!

After the arcade I got to enjoy a belated Mothers Day brunch with a bunch of sweet Wilmeth Mamas!

Mother’s Day was actually while I was in Saint Thomas, so I didn’t get to spend it with the kids taking me on their individual dates like usual. It made me a little sad, but they FaceTimed me and I did get this super sweet keychain note that Ellis’ teacher had them make for us!

The weather cooperated for Ellis’ 5th grade end of year pool party, and I’m so glad it did! Brooks had to have his party indoors last year and it was so lame.

All the 5th graders!

Shep’s rec team made it to the championship game, but unfortunately came up short. I’m sure it’s because their star pitcher wasn’t there. Shep had a tournament with his select team, so he didn’t get to play in the game, but he made it just in time for the ring ceremony!

Connor turned to the side with his arms crossed cracks me up! Love his competitive spirit, lol

Second place rings are still pretty cool!

Playing with buddies is always more fun!!

We have entered bad weather tornado season, and this warning was a little too close for comfort.

I love how this kid doesn’t get nervous for anything! He wanted me to watch and record his solo performance, while all the other kids didn’t want their parents to stand outside or anywhere near the door where they could hear them.

Brooks rocked it and got gold for his solo!

Ellis had her 5th grade promotion ceremony and I am not okay having only one left in elementary school.

I thought she looked so cute in her dress and tennis shoes!

We love Ms. Loya!

Ms. Loya’s 5th grade class of 2025

Sweet Grace came to watch Ellis “graduate”!

Carissa is the class president and one of the kindest humans on the planet. She is so sweet and patient with Ellis!

Ellis had some girl drama at the end of the year with a lot of her friends, and these 3 girls stepped up and were there for Ellis when no one else was. They gave her a place to sit at lunch and welcomed her into their group. This is such a tough age, and I hate to see Ellis struggling with so much, but I heard something the other day that brought me so much peace. “You can’t protect your child from their testimony.” Boy oh boy did that resonate with me. I do not EVER want to get in the way of the very thing God might be using to bring them to Him!

These two good friends had some struggles, but were thankfully able to work though it before the end of the year!

Poor Ellis is such a shrimp like her momma!

What a year it was. So many ups and downs. This girl persevered though and we are proud beyond words!

I guess it’s officially a tradition to do a skip day after the 5th grade promotion, and I’m all about it! It was Ellis’ day and she wanted to go to the mall! Thankful her brothers are good sports!

I had another idea in mind right next to the mall though, and Ellis was all about it!

Let’s go!!

Ellis was flying!!!

I was afraid skinny Shep was either going to snap in half or fly away, lol…

Brooks of course smiled the entire time!

Soooooo expensive but soooo worth it!

Ice cream treat to close out such a fun day!

Last day of school pics, that I’m not going to lie, didn’t actually happen until two days after the last day of school, lol. I still got them done though!

On the actual last day of school, I had an end of season swim party with my tennis girlies!!

Then I headed up to the school to watch Ellis walk the halls one last time 😭

Love this bitter sweet tradition!

First day of summer the boys were up bright and early for swim practice!

Brooks is a junior coach this year, and not only does he have to get to the pool at 6:45 every morning and stay until 10, he has to help teach and calm these littles who cry the whole time. He’s so good and so patient with them!

I love that we get to have breakfast dates after practice on some days too!

First weekend of summer was Memorial Day weekend, and we spent it at the lake with our besties!

Went to the General Store for some live music and dancing!

Ellis was throwing a fit and wanted to leave at first, but she ended up having the best time!

Love that Brooks always says yes when I ask him to dance! Love him so much!

Lake days are the best days!

Crazy kids never get enough of the tube!

Such a fun weekend and kick off to summer! We even had a little visitor come say hi before we left! Love PK and wish we could spend the whole summer there!

After a year of trying, a visit in Austin with a rheumatologist, an ophthalmologist appointment, an X-ray, two attempts for an mri, a pediatric neurologist appointment, a nervous breakdown and lots and lots of anxiety, Ellis was FINALLY approved for IVIG infusions!

The infusions are not a cure, but they are supposed to help boost her immune system and relieve her of some of her psychiatric symptoms. If they work, she can hopefully get them for as long as she needs them. These infusions without insurance cost thousands and thousands of dollars. We weren’t in a place where we could pay out of pocket for a treatment that may or may not work, so we were looking for other treatment options. We had all but given up on the idea of IVIG infusions when we got the call that not only had her infusions finally been approved, they would be 100% covered for monthly treatments for an entire year!

That’s not all….we also found out her nurse would be coming to our house to administer her infusions. Most people have to sit in stuffy centers for hours and hours while they wait for the medicine to slowly be infused into their bodies. We found out her sweet nurse lives right around the corner from us and we have so much in common with her. She also has an 11 year old daughter that will be going to middle school with Ellis next year. She grew up in Tomball and grew up going to the Frio River every summer. Her uncle was even my dads fire chief. It’s crazy how connected we are!

We decided to wait to give her her first infusion after school let out since we weren’t sure if she’d have any side effects. Well that first day came, and as excited as Ellis was her anxiety got the best of her. She just couldn’t get past the fear of the needle for the IV. She got herself so worked up she fell asleep while the nurse was still at the house…..

Thankfully the nurse brought reinforcements the next day and they were able to get the IV in her successfully!

The infusion took 7 and a half hours and Ellis was a rockstar! She played on her phone most of the day and even took a nap!

Her sweet friend Maddy dropped off a little care package for her!

Unfortunately, Ellis woke up in the middle of the night with a migraine. We tried to give her medicine and get her in the bath, but she threw up the medicine and couldn’t keep anything down. We kept her as comfortable as possible until the morning and then spent hours trying to get zofran and fluids sent to the pharmacy. Poor thing suffered with a migraine with no relief for nearly 12 hours until we finally got some zofran and medicine in her and she finally fell asleep! Almost 24 hours later seeing her smile and eat food was the biggest blessing. That evening she was almost in a state of euphoria and in the best mood I’ve seen her in in such a long time.

Unfortunately, when it was time for her to get the second dose she refused two separate nurses on two separate days and went into an anxiety flare. We decided we will wait to give her two full doses next month and will probably have to use some sedation (high level medication) for the IV insertion. We’re just trusting God’s perfect plan and timing and praying these next infusions go smoothly and bring her obvious relief, so she (and us) can see and know they help her.

Thankfully, Ellis was good enough for me to be able to sneak away and surprise my nephews at their high school graduation parties! The whole family was supposed to make the trip to Houston, but baseball and the infusions prevented that from happening. I’m sooooooo glad I was still able to go and be there for my amazing nephews!

So proud of Brayden and the incredible example he has set for my kiddos!

So proud of sweet Tyler too, whom my kids adore and look up to!

Such a proud Aunt and beyond excited for these future Aggies to have the time of their lives on this next adventure!